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严力:从文明回归江湖,我的20条思考碎片丨2025尾声
暗涌Waves· 2026-02-14 02:04
Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of investment strategies and the importance of adapting to changing environments, emphasizing a return to grassroots principles and a focus on genuine engagement with industries [3][4]. Part 01: Cycles and Adjustments - Understanding historical patterns can alleviate anxiety about current turmoil, as short-term disruptions are part of a longer-term trajectory [10]. - Structural opportunities arise during periods of change, making it an ideal time to identify promising projects [11]. - The shift from a focus on platformization to a return to grassroots values is necessary to maintain organizational spirit and agility [11]. - Senior partners should return to frontline engagement to better understand industry dynamics and innovation [11]. - Adapting strategies to align with changing environments is crucial, as rigid approaches may hinder success [11]. Part 02: New Opportunities - The AI sector is transitioning from foundational development to innovative applications, presenting new investment opportunities [13]. - Successful ventures will integrate both hardware and software, as a balanced approach is essential for long-term success [13]. - Building infrastructure for international expansion is more critical than merely selling products abroad [13]. - Identifying and collaborating with industry leaders can create mutually beneficial partnerships [13]. - Investment success can stem from either innate insight or aligning with influential figures in the industry [13]. Part 03: Life Insights - Personal happiness is derived from incremental achievements and a deeper understanding of the world's workings [15]. - Opportunities for disruption arise when large organizations become bureaucratic and complacent [16]. - Continuous self-critique is essential for organizations to remain innovative and responsive to change [16]. - The complexity of the world provides unique opportunities for those willing to explore and seek truth [16]. - Recognizing personal strengths and limitations is vital for achieving one's potential [16]. - Supporting idealists who pursue greater causes can inspire and create significant impact [16]. - Maintaining personal connections and warmth in business relationships is crucial for long-term success [16]. - Engaging with challenges and uncertainties is essential for meaningful progress [18]. - The pursuit of complex, high-quality projects is more rewarding than seeking immediate gratification [18]. - Viewing investment as a strategic game allows for a deeper exploration of opportunities and collaboration with intelligent minds [20].
一家水下AI芯片公司完成10亿元融资,瞄准大模型推理
暗涌Waves· 2026-02-13 00:57
Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rapid development and funding of a 3D AI chip company, 算苗科技 (Suanmiao Technology), which has completed two rounds of financing totaling nearly 1 billion RMB, aimed at developing domestically produced 3D computing chips for AI applications [3][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - 算苗科技 focuses on the research and development of 3D computing chips, with its core product being a customized chip for AI model inference [4]. - The company aims to address the "memory wall" issue that limits AI model computation, as current AI chips face significant inefficiencies due to memory bandwidth constraints [4][5]. - 算苗科技's A4 chip has demonstrated a throughput of 1.26 to 2.19 times that of NVIDIA's H200 in inference tasks on major open-source models [5]. Group 2: Funding and Market Position - The recent funding rounds were led by prominent investors, including Source Code Capital and Shixi Capital, indicating strong market interest and support for the company's vision [3][10]. - The company is positioned to leverage its expertise in 3D IC technology to create a competitive edge in the AI chip market, which is expected to grow significantly [10][19]. Group 3: Technological Innovation - 算苗科技 utilizes a 3D stacked architecture that allows for significantly higher memory bandwidth (up to 32 TB/s), which is crucial for AI model inference [4][13]. - The company’s approach contrasts with traditional GPU architectures, focusing on specialized ASIC designs that optimize performance for specific tasks rather than general-purpose computing [14][15]. Group 4: Strategic Focus - The company has chosen to concentrate on AI model inference rather than training, as it anticipates that 90% of future AI computing demand will be for inference tasks [15][18]. - 算苗科技 believes that the future of AI computing lies in architectural innovation, particularly through 3D stacking and ASIC optimization, which aligns with the growing demand for efficient computing solutions [28][29].
屈田:从孙子兵法,到出海心法|2025尾声
暗涌Waves· 2026-02-09 04:06
「 从来都不是一场短跑。 」 文 | ATM Capital 屈田 很多人把出海理解为一道选择题:留在中国,还是去更远的地方。但对屈田来说,那更像一场漫长的对 时:与趋势对时,与耐心对时,也与自我对时。不是比谁更快,而是比谁的表针与时代咬合得更准。 作为中国第一代互联网产品经理,屈田2007年开始投资移动互联网,也是美团、UC Web等项目的早期投 资人。2017年开始肉身出海,扎根印尼雅加达,在几乎无人看清方向的时刻,押注东南亚与中国企业的 全球化。 那时,极兔还只是一个模糊的物流构想,印尼街头的电商包裹远未像今天这样密集。他亲历了这家公司 从东南亚、到中国、再到全球的三次生死突围。 外界后来喜欢用"前瞻"解释这一切。但在他自己的表达里,更真实的词是"忍":在浪真正到来之前,必须 先学会独自站在岸边、承受漫长的曝光。 九年间,屈田见过太多企业把出海只是当成"多开一家分公司",也见过太多人在受挫后折返。他对这些 失败的总结是,缺乏深度本地化能力。 "就像移民一样,你必须扎根到那个国家,才能真正理解市场、做好业务。" 屈田认为,真正的全球化更接近二次创业:组织要重写,文化要重译,连创始人对胜负的刻度都要重新 标 ...
卓正医疗上市背后的商业密码:做中国健康服务行业的Costco
暗涌Waves· 2026-02-06 01:33
Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the unique business model of Zhuozheng Medical, which focuses on providing high-quality healthcare services without relying on insurance, thereby aligning commercial interests with patient health needs [3][36]. Group 1: Company Overview - Zhuozheng Medical, founded in 2012, has recently completed its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking a significant milestone for the company [3]. - The company has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 30% from 2022 to 2024, showcasing its resilient growth in the healthcare sector [4]. Group 2: Business Model - Zhuozheng Medical positions itself as the "Costco of healthcare services," focusing on "selection" and "trust" rather than low prices or high-end services [5][12]. - The company maintains a low drug cost ratio of below 10% and marketing expenses at around 1% of revenue, which is rare in the private healthcare sector [7][14]. Group 3: Customer Engagement - The company boasts an impressive 80% repurchase rate and a 67% membership renewal rate, indicating strong customer loyalty driven by trust [8]. - Zhuozheng Medical aims to create a closed-loop system of "quality service → reputation accumulation → high-frequency repurchase → low customer acquisition cost," which is essential for sustainable growth [9]. Group 4: Operational Strategy - The company emphasizes the importance of aligning user health interests with business goals, avoiding unnecessary medical procedures and focusing on evidence-based practices [21][36]. - Zhuozheng Medical has a unique recruitment strategy, focusing on younger, full-time doctors who align with the company's values and are committed to patient care [24][25]. Group 5: Market Positioning - The company deliberately avoids entering the insurance market to maintain pricing flexibility and focus on services that patients are willing to pay for out-of-pocket [36]. - Zhuozheng Medical sees itself as complementary to public healthcare, addressing needs in health management and quality of life that public institutions may not fulfill effectively [37]. Group 6: Future Aspirations - The company aims to serve one million families and achieve a revenue target of 10 billion yuan within the next decade, reflecting its long-term vision for growth [54].
用AI做深度用户访谈,获蓝驰、高瓴、王慧文投资
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-30 00:52
Core Insights - Trooly.AI, an AI-native user research platform, has raised nearly $10 million in seed funding within four months of its establishment, with investors including BlueRun Ventures, Hillhouse Capital, and Wang Huiwen [2] - Unlike many narratives surrounding AI companionship, Trooly.AI aims to create a genuine business loop by focusing on deep qualitative user interviews for B2B clients, utilizing multi-modal Voice Agent technology [2][6] - The founders, Wang Zhen and Sun Hao, previously worked at Zulution AI and have leveraged their experiences to identify the importance of user stories in product decision-making [5][6] Company Overview - Trooly.AI's core product allows B2B clients to conduct user research efficiently, reducing the time from project initiation to data delivery to as little as 24 hours [9][14] - The platform emphasizes deep qualitative interviews lasting around 45 minutes, which are designed to elicit emotional and personal user stories rather than just factual data [10][11] Market Positioning - Trooly.AI differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on real user interactions rather than virtual or simulated users, which enhances the authenticity of the insights gathered [18] - The platform's feedback speed is reported to be approximately 30 times faster than traditional user research methods, significantly reducing costs and time for clients [14][15] Technology and Methodology - The AI's ability to conduct interviews relies on its understanding of emotional cues and the ability to create a comfortable environment for users, which is crucial for gathering genuine insights [17][19] - Trooly.AI's interface is designed to minimize social pressure, allowing users to share their stories more freely compared to traditional human interviewers [19] Founders' Background - The founders' previous experiences at Zulution AI, particularly in AI companionship, have informed their approach to user research, emphasizing the need for emotional engagement during interviews [22][24] - Their journey included several failed attempts at different AI applications before realizing the value of user stories in product development [5][6] Investment and Future Goals - The seed funding round included strategic advice from Wang Huiwen, highlighting the competitive nature of the AI landscape and the necessity for a robust business model [32][33] - Trooly.AI's mission is to bridge the gap between consumer insights and product decision-makers, aiming to reduce resource wastage and enhance product utility [37][38]
一名“回购顾问”的自白丨入局
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-28 04:05
Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emerging challenges in the investment landscape, particularly focusing on the implications of buyback agreements in the context of hard technology companies and the evolving role of legal advisors in navigating these complexities [4][10][18]. Group 1: Buyback Agreements and Market Dynamics - As the capital market shows signs of recovery in 2025, the looming threat of buybacks remains a significant concern for many founders, indicating that the underlying issues related to buybacks have not dissipated [4][10]. - The period from 2017 to 2019 marked a significant shift towards hard technology investments, leading to a critical point where many companies are expected to face buyback obligations as they approach their exit windows in 2025-2027 [10][11]. - The article highlights that over 80% of founders are personally liable for buybacks, which transforms business failures into potential personal financial crises, indicating a shift towards a "quasi-debt" environment in equity investments [5][11]. Group 2: Legal and Advisory Role Transformation - The traditional role of lawyers in enforcing buyback agreements has led to a deadlock, where the majority of founders lack the financial means to fulfill these obligations, resulting in systemic waste and negative outcomes for both parties [6][9]. - The emergence of the "buyback advisor" role aims to facilitate communication between founders and investors, providing structured solutions rather than resorting to litigation [12][13]. - Customized strategies are proposed, such as partial cash repayments and valuation adjustments, to create a more manageable exit strategy for founders while maintaining investor accountability [14][15]. Group 3: Long-term Implications and Market Health - The article argues for a "dignified exit" approach, emphasizing the need to manage failures in a way that preserves the reputation and future opportunities of entrepreneurs, rather than leading to total financial ruin [17][18]. - It stresses the importance of reshaping market perceptions of failure as a part of innovation, advocating for a collective understanding that failure should not be severely punished but rather managed within acceptable limits [17][19]. - The ongoing activation of buybacks raises questions about whether existing market rules are equipped to handle widespread failures, highlighting a critical gap in the current investment framework [18].
何愚:三年后再吃5元一碗的牛肉面,深入县域才能保持体感丨2025尾声
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-26 04:05
Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of China's lower-tier cities and the potential investment opportunities that arise from them, particularly through field research and direct engagement with local markets [2][5][6]. Group 1: Field Research and Insights - The company has conducted extensive field research in various counties, including Guangdong and Hunan, to uncover stories and market dynamics that are often overlooked by mainstream investors [2][3]. - Previous research efforts involved visiting 495 counties, resulting in a significant report that garnered attention in the venture capital community [3]. - The motivation behind this research is to gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in lower-tier cities, which are often neglected by traditional investment strategies [5][6]. Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics - Insights from interviews indicate that while individual life satisfaction may have decreased due to economic pressures, overall satisfaction levels in county residents remain stable [13][14]. - Economic pressure is increasingly mentioned by residents, leading to a shift in spending habits where non-essential expenditures are being cut, particularly those associated with social status [16][17]. - Despite the perception of economic pressure, actual income levels for many families have remained stable or even increased, suggesting a disconnect between perceived and actual financial conditions [20][22]. Group 3: Changes in Work and Migration Attitudes - There is a noticeable increase in the perception of a faster work pace among county residents, with nearly half reporting feeling busier compared to previous years [24]. - Interest in migrating to larger cities has decreased, with residents weighing the costs and benefits more critically than before [26]. - Homeownership remains a priority, but the impact of housing prices on consumer behavior is limited, as many residents do not feel a strong connection to the fluctuations in the real estate market [29][30]. Group 4: Investment Opportunities - The company categorizes consumer spending into efficiency-driven and experience-driven consumption, noting a growing interest in experience-based spending among county residents [34][37]. - The supply landscape in lower-tier cities is characterized by a lack of quality and variety, which presents opportunities for businesses that can offer better value and experiences [38][39]. - The potential for explosive growth in certain categories is linked to the ability to meet the emerging demands of consumers in these markets, driven by innovative supply solutions [40][48]. Group 5: Gender Dynamics and Social Change - The article highlights the income disparity between genders in county areas, with a significant portion of women earning below 35,000 yuan annually, reflecting broader societal issues [49][50]. - There is a budding awareness among county women regarding their self-identity and roles, which could influence future consumption patterns and market dynamics [50][51]. - The focus on women's self-awareness is not merely a consumption trend but indicates a shift in societal attitudes that could lead to structural changes in the market [50][52].
「自然选择」融资3000万美元,阿里、蚂蚁布局AI陪伴
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-20 00:57
Core Insights - The article discusses the recent funding round of AI companionship company "Nature Select," which raised over $30 million from investors including Alibaba and Ant Group [2] - The AI companionship sector faced challenges in 2025, with products like C.ai being perceived as having low growth potential and commercialization difficulties [3] - "Nature Select" has redefined AI companionship through five dimensions, including proactive engagement, emotional intelligence, long-term memory, high immersion, and breaking the dimensional barrier between virtual and real life [4] Funding and Investment - "Nature Select" completed a funding round exceeding $30 million, with participation from notable investors such as Alibaba, Ant Group, and others [2] - The investment is driven by the company's innovative approach to AI companionship, particularly its proactive agent interaction model [7] Product Development - The company launched its AI product "EVE," which features a unique interaction model that combines emotional intelligence and long-term memory capabilities [4][7] - EVE's memory system has evolved to include 128 dynamic memory slots and a multi-dimensional graph-based memory system [7] Market Position and Competitive Advantage - "Nature Select" stands out in the increasingly crowded AI companionship market due to its combination of AI expertise and a background in gaming, allowing for advanced 3D visuals and gamified design [7] - The company aims to create a new interactive experience that accumulates user context and memory through a natural and engaging interface [7] Future Vision - The ultimate goal of "Nature Select" is to create a world where silicon-based life forms coexist with humans, indicating a long-term vision for the integration of AI into daily life [8]
一年融2.2亿,DeepWisdom终于发布了第一款产品
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-13 13:33
Core Insights - DeepWisdom has successfully raised a total of 220 million RMB in two funding rounds in 2025, with notable investors including Ant Group and KKR [3][24] - The company's core product, Atoms, is an AI programming platform designed to enable users to launch a startup with just an idea, utilizing a multi-agent architecture to handle all aspects of product development [4][6] - Atoms aims to democratize entrepreneurship by allowing individuals without coding skills to create and deploy fully functional products [6][10] Funding and Financial Performance - In 2025, DeepWisdom completed two funding rounds, raising 100 million RMB from Ant Group and 17 million USD from KKR and others, exceeding their fundraising target by four times [24][25] - The company has achieved an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of over 1 million USD shortly after launching its product [4] Product and Technology - Atoms, previously known as MGX, allows users to input ideas and receive a complete product development solution, including market research, design, development, and deployment [6][10] - The platform differentiates itself from competitors like Lovable and Replit by focusing on launching entire businesses rather than just assisting with coding [7] - Atoms integrates advanced AI models, including Gemini3, to enhance its capabilities and user experience [9] Market Position and Vision - DeepWisdom envisions a future where numerous "AI atom companies" operate collaboratively, transforming the entrepreneurial landscape [16][20] - The company promotes a "scholarly cycle" organizational structure to foster innovation and efficiency, aiming to leverage AI for rapid product development [17][18] - The long-term business model includes subscription fees, revenue sharing from user transactions, and infrastructure fees within its ecosystem [11] User Demographics and Case Studies - The user base of Atoms is diverse, ranging from e-commerce sellers to educators, showcasing its versatility as a SaaS tool [10] - A notable user case involved an elderly individual creating a personalized educational product for his granddaughter, highlighting the platform's accessibility [10] Future Outlook - DeepWisdom aims to build the foundational infrastructure for an "agent internet," facilitating seamless communication and collaboration among AI agents [16][23] - The company believes that traditional businesses will struggle to adapt to the rapid changes brought by AI, while individual entrepreneurs will thrive due to shorter decision-making chains [22]
PhotonPay光子易获数千万美元B轮融资,IDG领投
暗涌Waves· 2026-01-09 01:51
Core Viewpoint - PhotonPay, a global AI-driven digital financial infrastructure platform, has recently completed a multi-million dollar Series B funding round led by IDG Capital, with participation from several other investors, indicating strong market interest and potential for growth in the digital payment sector [2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - The founder of PhotonPay, Chen Min, previously worked on overseas payment systems at Baidu, gaining insights into the fragmented global payment infrastructure [3]. - PhotonPay aims to create a comprehensive financial infrastructure that addresses the complexities of global payments, moving beyond just faster transactions to a more integrated solution for global enterprises [4][5]. Group 2: Business Model and Strategy - PhotonPay's business logic is based on the deep understanding of the fragmented nature of global payment infrastructures, opting for a "native" approach to reconstruct the foundational systems rather than relying on existing channels [7][8]. - The company has invested years in developing a modular system that allows for flexible and efficient global payment operations, significantly reducing transaction costs by over 75% for thousands of enterprises [9][10]. Group 3: Target Market and Client Engagement - PhotonPay focuses on high-complexity scenarios often overlooked by traditional payment systems, such as advertising, international logistics, and digital entertainment, where financial operations require precision and flexibility [11][12]. - The company employs an "embedded finance" model, integrating payment capabilities directly into clients' business systems, enhancing operational efficiency and creating a deeper partnership with clients [13]. Group 4: Future Vision and Technological Innovations - PhotonPay is exploring the integration of blockchain technology to enhance the speed and transparency of global transactions, potentially transforming the traditional payment landscape [15][16]. - The company plans to expand its financial services beyond payments to include asset management and innovative financial products, leveraging its growing platform and client base [17][18]. - PhotonPay is also internationalizing its organizational structure, establishing operational centers globally and aiming to attract local talent to enhance its service capabilities [18].